Truly Dreadful Film

Really Surprised!

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

The acting in this movie is really good.

This film was shown here in London during the Foreign film exhibition together with other remarkable Filipino films like Imelda, American Adobo...etc....the venue was a bit small( Riverside Cinema)thou the number of Filipinos base in London is quite large now but still of many reasons, Non Filipino viewers are more than our "Kababayans", i cant say that Filipinos are not movie goers cos it's not true. Maybe because most of them here are westernised now, so they prefer to watch English spoken films.....well thats a sign that they are so easy to adapt(positive outlook in life). The ticket is very reasonable and if you will rent a pirated DVD from Filipino supermarket they charge more and very bad reception. It was well advertised too that so many fliers and leaflets were given away in all Filipino shops, remittance office, Filipino beauty saloons and anywhere as long as there is Filipino......But why so limited of Filipino watched it????? It is because most of them(Filipino) has no culture and cant appreciate the real art.... its a shame and sad to admit but its true. where is the nationalistic campaign of us before that goes this way???....TANGKILIKIN ANG SARILING ATIN.....We need more films like this to uplift our country and people in the world map.

I can't figure out why people are saying that this film isn't melodramatic, because it really lays on the sap. It follows a formula we've seen before of inspiration and tragedy, all just to get a few cheap tugs at the heartstrings. The story's evolution is not convincing and the dignity of the poor aspect is overplayed for what it is worth.All that said, there are redeeming aspects. Most notably is the cinematography. The images are all well lit for depth and contrast of cool and warm colors. Also, the camera shots from low angles with wide lenses give an overall visual perspective that rings true as the way a child would see the world. There is also some good scenes between the protagonist and his grandmother and his sister. These three were probably the best actors to boot.In the end, it is not something worth going out of your way to see though.

I can't believe that it took me year before I had the "experience" of watching Magnifico. Never had I seen a Filipino movie which moved me to tears that I almost found it hard to breathe..This is one of those Filipino cinematic gems.. The story is simple yet unforgettable..this movie is unpretentious, subtle and humbling. One scene that really made me cry was when they did a slow motion of Jiro walking out of the house carrying his sister on his back to take her out to the "perya" Lorna, the mother, just crying there silently watching her two children was just one of the many unforgettable scenes in the movie. The movie's happy atmosphere in the beginning will cleverly prepare you to a tragic and yet what I consider "beautiful" ending. This movie is one of those stories that will prove that in this world where people consider Me, Myself and I as most important, there is still what we call selfless love.

It's not too often that even a decent filipino film comes out these days. Was it over-hyped? Maybe. But it was a good, solid film. And in our struggling industry, movies like those are all too rare.